Speaking at the event held at the Coco Ocean Hotel, Minister Keita explained that the ASF made a courtesy call on some ministries and the private sector to discuss possible areas of collaboration. Hon. Keita believes that the conclusions of the discussions would be part of the basis that would guide ASF intervention in The Gambia.
“The participation of the ASF in the development of The Gambia is another testimony of the confidence of the development partners in the country. And we are confident that the private sector will leverage on the financing opportunities that the ASF will present,” he stated.
He added that in their private sector lead growth strategy, the government of President Adama Barrow would work tirelessly to provide opportunities for the private sector by opening doors to access support from development funding agencies.
Lamin Bojang, the adviser to the finance minister, who is also the representative of The Gambia on the board of ASF, urged the business community to take advantage of the opportunity created by ASF.
“The African Solidarity Fund has developed an ambitious medium-term development strategy for the new frontier plan,” he said, adding that this would ensure high financing capacity and provide the ability to mobilse more financing and resources to them to meet the demand of its member countries.
Mr. Jean Berchmans Nkurunziza, head of the delegation and the central director of Strategy and Operations of the Fund, stated: “As of June 2023, the ASF has a capital of about 285 million US dollars. It envisages to become by 2025, a strong and innovative Pan African institution at the service of the structural transformation of member states.”
ASF is a multilateral financial guaranty institution based in Niamey, Niger. Its member countries include Gambia, Rwanda, Senegal, Togo, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Congo, Benin, Burkina Faso, and others. The creation of the organisation was a decision of the African heads of state taken in the Central African Republic in March 1975. It became operational in September 1979.
